Last year, the Eagles were propelled to the Super Bowl in part because of a stunning mid-season trade with the Dolphins. Now, they’re reportedly considering going back to the well.
According to the Miami Herald, the Eagles have spoken to the Dolphins about a trade for former first-round wide receiver DeVante Parker. Parker was rumored to be on the trade block for some time, with Salguero reporting the Dolphins have discussed a swap with multiple NFL teams.
While a Parker trade wouldn’t solve the Eagles’ shortage at running back, it could improve their depth at wideout and potentially add another weapon to the offense.
Chosen No. 14 overall in 2015, Parker has fallen out of favor in Miami, where he has just two receptions for 40 yards in two games this season. He was battling a quad injury but was also considered a healthy scratch for multiple games this season, including the Dolphins’ Week 7 matchup Sunday against the Lions.
Injuries have plagued Parker through four NFL seasons, during which he has 141 catches, 1,948 yards and eight touchdowns. He set career highs with 744 yards and four touchdowns in 2016, and last season posted a line of 57/670/1.
The Eagles could use some help at receiver, where Alshon Jeffery and Nelson Agholor are the only consistently productive receivers. Jordan Matthews was signed to be a stopgap but has only six catches through four games — matching Kamar Aiken, who was cut Friday. Shelton Gibson and DeAndre Carter are used only sparingly, while Mike Wallace and Mack Hollins remain on injured reserve, their returns uncertain.
Parker is at least more experienced than Gibson and Carter, and possibly an upgrade over Matthews as well. At least, the 25-year-old has tremendous size and athleticism, listed 6-foot-3, 216 pounds with 4.45 speed. He’s also under contract through next season, though the Eagles would absolutely need to renegotiate his $9.38 million salary in 2019 for Parker to stick around.
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Provided the cost is low — likely a late-round draft pick or swap of picks — this would be a low risk/high reward situation for the Eagles. Parker is clearly talented and has shown some ability at the NFL level, but clearly needs a change of scenery.
Eagles vice president of football operations Howie Roseman already has a rapport with Dolphins management as well, swinging the trade for running back Jay Ajayi last Oct. 31.
Observers have been independently connecting the dots with a potential Parker-to-the-Eagles move for some time. Now it appears there might be something to the rumblings.
At the same time, the Eagles frequently are in conversations with other teams that never lead to a deal or become serious at all. It’s possible Roseman is kicking the tires or doing his due diligence, but that doesn’t necessarily mean Parker will wind up in midnight green, either.
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